{"body":{"post":{"id":"3l49716v4n255o3i5x0k","title":"alex healy email","content":"Dear friends,\n\nSomething serious is happening in Westerly and you deserve to know.\n\nDuring a one-on-one phone interview for reappointment to the Multicultural Committee, Councilor Rose Van Dover, acting as a member of the Appointments Committee, asked the applicant — the *then-chair* of the committee — about their race and used a racial slur to describe them.\n\nThis wasn’t hearsay or a misunderstanding.\nShe admitted to it in writing, then doubled down by referencing her “multiracial grandchildren” as if that somehow made it okay.\n\nThere was no real apology. No accountability. No consequences — yet.\n\nThis isn’t the first time Councilor Van Dover has made inappropriate comments but this time, she crossed a legal and ethical line.\nShe broke her oath. And she broke public trust.\n\nAt the Town Council meeting on Monday, July 21 at 6:00 PM at Town Hall (45 Broad Street, second floor — elevator available), I will support Councilor Niemeyer’s agenda item to censure Councilor Rose Van Dover. And during the Councilor response portion of the meeting, I will end my comments by calling for her resignation.\n\nAdditionally, I’ve requested (twice) that the Town Manager and Police Chief provide a public briefing on Westerly’s ICE protocols. Specifically, I’ve asked:\n\n**Will we honor I-200 and I-205 administrative ICE warrants?**\n\nThese are civil, not criminal, warrants — issued internally by ICE officers and not signed by a judge. That means towns are not legally obligated to act on them. Courts have raised serious concerns about these warrants violating Fourth Amendment protections, as they allow detention without judicial oversight or probable cause. They’ve been used to target individuals based on race or perceived ethnicity, often without due process.\n\n**Have local business networks and seasonal employers been provided clear guidance and resources — especially for staff who are here on work visas?**\n\nEveryone in our community deserves clear, accessible information about their rights and about how this town responds to ICE. This is about safety, transparency, and upholding due process.\n\nI am hopeful this will be addressed at this meeting as well.\n\n🗓 When the official meeting agenda is released tomorrow, I’ll be sharing it — with full context — on my Facebook page:\n👉 facebook.com/AlexHealyWesterly\nIf you’re not on Facebook, just reply to this email and I’ll send the info directly.\n\nAs upsetting as this situation is, it has also made something undeniable:\n\nThis moment has exposed serious gaps in how our town operates, and we have a responsibility to turn this harm into real, structural change.\n\nThere are currently no requirements for elected officials in Westerly to complete ethics or bias training.\n\nThere are no written procedures for how Appointments Committee interviews are conducted.\n\nThe volunteer application process is outdated and lacks transparency.\n\nWe can — and must — do better.\n\nThat’s why I’ve shared a draft resolution with the Council President calling for annual ethics and anti-bias training, and want our Town Solicitor to help identify responsible, reputable options for implementation.\n\n This isn’t about politics — it’s about integrity, safety, and rebuilding public trust. And it needs to happen now.\n \n(You’ll hear me speak about this during the meeting as well.)\n\nThis isn’t just about one person or one decision.\n\nIt’s about shaping the kind of town we want to be.\n\n📧 Email public comment to:\nmleblanc@westerlyri.gov\n📝 Subject: Public Comment – Town Council\n📂 Be sure to write: \"Please submit this for the record.\"\n\nThis ensures your comments are included in the official meeting file and may be acknowledged during the Council Reports section of the meeting.\n\n\n📅 Town Council Meeting\n🕕 Monday, July 21, 6:00 PM\n📍 45 Broad Street, Westerly — Second Floor (Elevator available)\n\nDo you have ideas? Questions? Solutions?\nWant to stand up for your community and hold the Council — and Councilor Van Dover — accountable?\nShare your voice. Speak during public comment. Email your thoughts.\nYour lived experiences matter here. Your suggestions can help shape a stronger, fairer Westerly.\n\nNeed a place to start? Here are suggested points you can include in your comment or email:\n\nCouncilor Van Dover inquired about a candidate's race using a racial slur during an interview for appointed office, and admitted to doing so in an email to the full Council.\n\n1. The use of a racial slur in a government setting is wrong and inquiring about someone's racial identity during an interview is also wrong. It is not only inappropriate, it is illegal.\n2. Councilor Van Dover violated the civil rights of a Westerly resident, breaking the trust between the government and its people.\n3. She should no longer serve as the Council’s liaison to any public boards or committees. Her behavior shows a lack of judgment and decorum when dealing with the public.\n4. She should resign. Failing that, the Council must take appropriate steps to hold her accountable.\n5. Residents, workers, and businesses deserve clarity on ICE procedures. Administrative warrants like I-200 and I-205 are not signed by judges and should not be acted on without legal obligation.\n6. This is our town and we will not tolerate hate in any form. Our institutions must reflect the values of justice, inclusion, and accountability. Civil rights are non-negotiable.\n\nEven just one or two of these — in your own voice — makes a difference. I know it can feel intimidating to speak up. But I promise you are not alone. I’ll be right there with you. And I know you can count on your Democratic councilors to stand beside you with clarity, compassion, and conviction.\n\nTake that fear, and turn it into fire.\nLet it fuel your voice, your presence, your courage.\nThis is OUR town. Hate has no place here. And it’s about damn time we show it.\n\n\nWith urgency and resolve,\n\nAlexandra Healy\nWesterly Town Councilor (writing in a personal capacity)\n\nPlease also consider forwarding this email to friends, neighbors, and local networks — especially those who may not be aware of what’s happening. The more voices we have in the room (and in the record), the stronger our message will be."}}}